The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team returned to action at the Circuito de Jerez–Ángel Nieto in Spain for a productive two-day private test, with Stefano Manzi completing extensive mileage aboard the Yamaha R1.
Manzi made the most of the fully dry conditions on Day 1, with uninterrupted track time available from 10:00 to 18:00. The Italian immediately hit the asphalt in the morning session, continuing his adaptation to the Superbike machinery in what was only his second test with the Yamaha R1. He completed 95 laps throughout the day, showing consistent improvement. In the final runs, the 2025 WorldSSP Champion posted his best lap in 1’39.442 (lap 84), placing him seventh overall and giving the team a solid base of data.
The positive weather continued into Day 2, allowing Manzi and the team to carry on their program without interruption. The #62 rider demonstrated notable progress, improving his pace by almost a full second from the previous day. He clocked a strong 1’38.606, completing 72 laps to place himself seventh again overall, bringing his total over the two days to 167 laps.
On the other side of the garage, Remy Gardner did not take part in the Jerez test due to a shoulder injury sustained in a training incident. The Australian rider is now focused on achieving full recovery and is expected to return to action in 2026.
Stefano Manzi
“First of all, I'd like to send my best wishes or a quick recovery to Remy! Then, talking about the test, it was nice to be back on the bike and to complete two solid days of testing. I'm continuing to get used to the Yamaha R1 and to the whole crew around me, which is really positive. Just like in the first test, the main goal was to put in laps and build feeling with the bike, and I think we made some good progress. Unfortunately, we’ll now have to wait until next year before getting back on track, but that’s actually a good thing: we’re doing a good job, and we’re all looking forward to what’s next. We know we need to take things step by step and stay patient. For now, I’ll enjoy a bit of rest and keep training hard to be fully ready for 2026!"
The Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team is delighted to announce that 2025 FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship Champion Maria Herrera will race with the Italian squad in the WorldWCR from the 2026 season.
Herrera, 29, is one of the most influential women in motorcycle racing. She has built a solid career on the world stage, including several seasons in the Moto3 World Championship. She also competed in MotoE – being the only female rider in the class – from 2019 to 2025, consistently delivering strong performances in the electric category.
Between 2018 and 2021, she was part of the WorldSBK paddock, racing in the WorldSSP300 Championship and achieving promising results, before stepping up the following year to WorldSSP, where she continued to show competitiveness. She also raced in the same category in 2020 and 2021.
In 2024, Herrera made her presence felt in the inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship, fighting for the title until the final race of the season. The following year, 2025, she won the championship with an exceptional campaign: six race wins and four additional podiums. Counting both seasons, she boasts 12 victories and 19 podium finishes out of 24 WorldWCR races.
Maria Herrera
“I’m very excited to join the Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team for this new season. It will be my third year in the championship, and I believe that both the team and I bring a level of experience that will allow us to form a very strong pairing. I’m also particularly motivated because I’ve previously worked and raced with Ayrton (Badovini); he knows my riding style very well and knows how to bring out the best in me. I’m convinced that together we can take a step forward and fight for great results.”
Simone Bustreo, Team Principal
“We are extremely proud to announce that Maria will race with us next year. She needs no introduction: she is the most successful rider in the category so far and the reigning FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Champion after an extraordinary season. This signing confirms the effort we’re investing in this Championship and highlights our ambitions. We’re truly excited for the season ahead and can’t wait to get on track. I would like to thank all our partners for their trust, as well as all our supporters. A big season awaits us!”
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team returned to action at the Circuito de Jerez–Ángel Nieto, Spain, for a one-day private test, with Stefano Manzi immediately making an impression on his WorldSBK debut by setting the third fastest lap time.
Both riders faced tricky conditions in the morning, as light rain affected the opening hours of testing. When the track finally began to dry around 11:00 local time (test going on from 10:00 to 18:00 non-stop), Manzi headed out for his very first laps aboard the Yamaha R1, focusing on gaining confidence and understanding the Superbike.
The 2025 WorldSSP Champion completed a total of 95 laps, steadily improving throughout the day. In the final stages, he delivered a time attack, securing third overall with a 1’39.349 (on lap 87 of 95), while gathering valuable data and experience on the R1.
On the other side of the box, Remy Gardner’s day was limited by shoulder pain following his Superpole Race incident on Sunday. Despite the discomfort, the Australian still managed 16 laps in the morning session, setting a best time of 1’39.695 to end the day in ninth position. Gardner then decided to stop his test before lunchtime, preserving energy and track time for upcoming sessions.
Stefano Manzi – P3 (1’39.349)
“First of all, it’s amazing to make my WorldSBK debut — it’s been an exciting day and I couldn’t wait to ride the bike. Our main goal today was to complete as many laps as possible. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t ideal early on, and we lost a bit of track time, but we still managed to do a lot of work and I’m happy overall. Today was all about getting comfortable and building confidence with the Yamaha R1. From the next tests, we’ll start to focus more on details, so I’m already looking forward to being back on track.”
Remy Gardner – P9 (1’39.695)
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t ride as much as we planned today because of my shoulder. Still, we completed a few laps and decided to save half a day for later, which could be useful. I’m satisfied with what we managed to do, and now the focus is on the next test in a month’s time. I’ll take some rest to recover properly and come back in good shape for the next outing.”
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team concluded its 2025 campaign today at the Circuito de Jerez–Ángel Nieto, with Remy Gardner finishing 11th in Race 2 after an unfortunate Superpole Race incident that ended his sprint on the opening lap.
Following a positive Warm Up session, both Gardner and Alessandro Delbianco entered the Tissot Superpole Race feeling confident. However, Gardner’s promising start was short-lived — after a lightning getaway that placed him among the leading group, he was taken out just three corners into the race. On the other side of the garage, Delbianco delivered a consistent performance, crossing the line in a solid 14th place.
Despite some pain in his right shoulder from the earlier crash, Gardner was declared fit to race and lined up 11th on the grid for Race 2. The Australian rider showed great determination, maintaining a steady rhythm and pushing through the discomfort to secure 11th at the flag. Delbianco also fought hard for points, displaying good pace throughout and ultimately finishing 17th.
Remy Gardner – Superpole Race: DNF / Race 2: P11
“It’s a shame to finish the season like this. We had a really strong opportunity today, but unfortunately it was taken away in the Superpole Race. I was taken out early on and felt some pain in my right shoulder afterwards, which affected me in Race 2. Still, our pace was good and we could have achieved a strong result — the whole team deserved it. Anyway, we’ll look ahead to next season with confidence and aim to be consistently fighting at the front.”
Alessandro Delbianco – Superpole Race: P14 / Race 2: P17
“Overall, it’s been a decent day, and I’m happy to have completed both races. In the sprint we showed good pace and enjoyed some close battles, and I was confident heading into Race 2 as well. It wasn’t easy to manage the full race distance here, as it was my first complete WorldSBK race this year, but lap by lap the feeling improved, and that’s really positive. I’d like to thank the Team and Yamaha for the opportunity — it’s been a great experience.”
The Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team wrapped up the 2025 season on a high note at the Circuito de Jerez–Ángel Nieto, securing a double Top 10 finish in the final race weekend of the year. Sara Sánchez and Natalia Rivera battled fiercely until the chequered flag in Race 2, ultimately finishing eighth and tenth respectively.
After a promising Warm Up 2 session, both riders approached the final race with confidence. Sánchez was third fastest in the 10-minute outing, with Rivera ninth, showing strong pace ahead of the decisive race.
In Race 2, Rivera and Sánchez launched well from sixth and thirteenth on the grid, immediately joining the battle for the podium. The pair maintained a strong rhythm throughout the 11-lap contest, remaining in contention until the final stages. Sánchez crossed the line in eighth, with Rivera close behind in tenth, sealing a positive conclusion to the season.
Sara Sánchez – P8
“It’s a bit of a bittersweet ending. Of course, I would have liked to finish the season with a podium. The pace was there, but starting so far back made things difficult, and considering my physical condition, it wasn’t easy to handle all the battles. It’s been a demanding season with ups and downs, but I want to thank all the guys who supported me throughout the year. It’s been a pleasure working with them, and I can only wish them the best.”
Natalia Rivera – P10
“It’s been a thrilling debut season for me, and overall I’m happy with the progress we made. Today we were in the fight for the podium, and even if I’m a little disappointed not to be closer, that’s a good sign — it means we’re pushing and aware of our potential to be up there. The goal for next year will be to keep improving and consistently fight for those positions. I want to thank the team for all their support — I can’t wait to start next season!”
The Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team returned to action today at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, delivering a solid performance with both riders inside the top ten. Sara Sánchez crossed the finish line in eighth but was later demoted to ninth for exceeding track limits on the final lap, while Natalia Rivera secured a strong tenth place just behind her teammate.
The day began positively with Warm Up 1, where both riders gathered valuable data ahead of Race 1. Sánchez was third fastest, improving on her Superpole time, while Rivera placed 13th, showing consistent pace.
Race 1 was interrupted by an early red flag, reducing the distance to just nine laps. At the restart, starting from 10th and 12th on the grid, Rivera and Sánchez both made good launches and began climbing through the field. Despite her physical condition, Sánchez displayed impressive speed, recovering to eighth and setting her fastest lap on the final lap — though a track limits infringement at Turn 13 dropped her to ninth. The penalty also cost her what would have been a front-row start (sixth) for Sunday’s Race 2, meaning she’ll line up 13th instead.
Rivera, meanwhile, produced a strong and consistent ride, staying close to the leading group and improving her rhythm as the race progressed. Setting her fastest lap on the final circulation, she crossed the line in tenth, which promoted her to sixth on the grid for Race 2 thanks to her strong pace in the closing stages.
Sara Sánchez – P9
“Starting from so far back was challenging, especially considering my physical condition. Despite that, and the shortened race, we managed to show strong pace and improve lap by lap. It’s a shame my final lap was canceled for track limits, which dropped me to ninth and denied me a sixth-place start for tomorrow. Still, we proved we’re fast and ready to fight back. I’ll give everything to make a big comeback tomorrow — let’s stay confident and see what happens!”
Natalia Rivera – P10
“It was a tricky race overall, even though our pace was good. The shortened distance didn’t help, as we had fewer laps to close the gap to the front, but I was getting faster every lap. Setting my best time on the last lap gives me a lot of confidence, and starting sixth tomorrow will be a great opportunity. I’ll try to stay with the leading group and push to fight among them.”
